The arms were granted on June 20, 1955, and confirmed on September 3, 1973. The clawless eagle was the arms of the Counts of Lauffen, who ruled the area until the beginning of the 13th century. As the city of Heilbronn also uses an eagle, it was chosen as a representative symbol. The arms replaced arms used by the country since 1928. These arms showed a wheat-ear, hammer and some grapes around an escutcheon with an anchor. These arms represented the different industries in the district, agriculture, mining, viniculture and the harbour at the Neckar.